Southampton: England head coach Brendon McCullum relaxed the team’s recently introduced alcohol guidelines following their 4-0 T20I series win over India, saying his players had the right to celebrate responsibly.
Speaking after England’s 56-run win in Southampton to lift them to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I rankings, McCullum said players who want to drink beer after the series would be welcome if they acted sensibly.
“For a start, there aren’t many of our guys who actually drink,” McCallum said. “Anyone who likes beer can drink beer. The guidelines are there, people understand them, and they’re designed to make sure players make the right decisions and take care of themselves.”
He also said that success should be celebrated in moderation.
“You still need to feel the warmth of victory. If you’re a beer drinker, tonight’s a great chance to celebrate what you’ve accomplished in the last ten days, as long as it’s sensible and not excessive. We’ll have a quiet beer as long as nobody gets off the front.”
England introduced the midnight curfew earlier this year following disciplinary concerns during the tours of New Zealand and Australia.
The policy came under scrutiny after Test captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson defied curfew while celebrating England’s victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.
Although both players were investigated following a visit to the Rex Rooms nightclub in Chelsea, Atkinson got into an altercation with the Saracens rugby player and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) later concluded the pair had breached “specific contractual obligations”.
The ECB later issued updated guidance to players, recommending that they should not consume alcohol from the day before the start of the match until its completion.
However, the policy allows McCullum and England managing director Rob Key to make exceptions. The win against India was the first occasion McCullum chose that prudence.
McCullum praised white-ball captain Harry Brooke, describing his personal and leadership growth over the past year as “immense”.
Earlier this year, he was fined after being assaulted by a bouncer when he tried to enter the stadium at night before an ODI in Wellington, an incident which contributed to England tightening its off-field behavior policies.
“He didn’t fully understand the position he held within England cricket and the responsibilities that came with it,” McCullum said. “Sometimes a mistake like that can shape someone’s future. He has acknowledged how much he has grown and he has a significant future as a leader in England cricket.”
While McCullum declined to comment on Brook’s long-term prospects as England’s all-round captain, he praised the 26-year-old’s leadership against India and likened their relationship to that of a father and son.
“I don’t just think of him as a good mate, I think of him as one of my other sons,” McCallum said. “He hasn’t always got everything right and has made mistakes off the field, but the growth we’ve seen in the last 12 months has been immense.
“He is respected in the dressing room as a leader, a tactician and of course a player. He is developing at an incredible pace and I thoroughly enjoy working with him.”
Reflecting on England’s dominant T20I series, McCullum said the team’s response after a difficult period, including a 2-1 Test series defeat against New Zealand and Stokes’ retirement from Test cricket, was overwhelming.
“The Test series didn’t go the way we wanted and there was a lot of noise around the team,” he said.
“It’s very satisfying to win 4-0. It’s a long week in the game and things can change quickly. To take the emotion out of situations, to focus on the task at hand, I thought the boys did brilliantly.”